THE outcome of the long-running Villa takeover saga remained shrouded in mystery today amid reports the Irish consortium was #10 million short of meeting the asking price.

THE outcome of the long-running Villa takeover saga remained shrouded in mystery today amid reports the Irish consortium was #10 million short of meeting the asking price.

Aston Villa appeared to quash reports that Irish property magnates Brian and Luke Comer had already pulled out of the deal - but there was no indication that any agreement was imminent.

Villa spokesman Phil Mepham today told the Birmingham Mail: "We have not been informed of any changes to the current position."

He said Villa was not planning to make any statement to the Stock Exchange.

Meanwhile, Michael Neville, the frontman for the proposed #64 million takeover by the Comers, could not be contacted for comment.

But an insider, who asked not to be named, said: "There's no doubt that Doug Ellis wants to sell - he wanted to settle the deal before Christmas but the consortium are still trying to raise the money.

"The word is that they are about #10 million short. They can't raise enough money to meet the asking price. There are serious concerns about the sums of money available."

The Mail revealed before Christmas that the takeover bid had reached due diligence stage - detailed examination of both parties' accounts - and Mr Neville said he was hopeful a deal could be agreed by the New Year.

But he later said no potential agreement was likely before mid-January as speculation grew that the takeover talks, which have been dragging on since October, would eventually come to a halt.

Ellis told shareholders at the annual meeting in October that he hoped to be able to provide more information within a month but has consistently refused to make any further public comment since.